Washington Senate Passes Child Sex Trafficking Bills

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - The Washington state Senate has unanimously passed a pair of bills meant to crack down on child sex trafficking.

The first measure passed Monday would impose a $5,000 fine on top of existing penalties for those using online ads to facilitate the commercial sexual abuse of a child. That money would go toward state efforts to prevent and stop prostitution.

The second bill would expand the definition of "communication with a minor for immoral purposes" to include buying and selling sex acts and engaging in sex trafficking. It would also increase penalties for clients of child prostitutes and add trafficking and commercial sexual abuse of a child to the list of sex offenses requiring sex-offender registration.